After passing different versions of a liquor omnibus bill, the Minnesota House and Senate were unable to come to an agreement on a final version of the bill yesterday, the last day of the 2017 regular legislative session. With large budget bills still outstanding when the clock struck midnight, a special session was called so … [ Read more]
Bill introduced to effectively expand growler sales to all Minnesota breweries
February 14, 2017 by
Bring in a growler to Third Street Brewhouse’s taproom for a refill, and you’ll come away empty-bottled. In August 2016, the Cold Spring, Minnesota–based brewery ceased filling growlers after it crossed the annual production limit of 20,000 barrels imposed by state law. They joined a growing list of breweries that cannot sell growlers at their locations, including Summit Brewing, August Schell … [ Read more]
What’s the ABV? Transparency in beer labeling
January 20, 2017 by
Seven years ago, I was living in Ghent, Belgium. Though I had been a fan of craft beer for years, Belgium is where I learned the hard way about the wide variance of alcohol content between different styles. I hadn’t yet been introduced to the Belgian golden strong ale or tripel—two drinkable yet shockingly potent … [ Read more]
Dry in Duluth: The story behind the last dry neighborhoods in the Zenith City
October 19, 2016 by
Nearly all of Duluth has embraced the explosion of local beer, but there’s one eastside neighborhood that hasn’t partaken. In fact, the Lakeside/Lester Park neighborhood hasn’t sold a drop of alcohol during its 125-year-old ban on liquor sales. The historic run came to end in June, however, when the Duluth City Council voted to sign … [ Read more]
Minnesota’s brand label registration system goes online
January 25, 2016 by
Every beer sold in the state of Minnesota, whether it’s a one-off at a local taproom, a Belgian import, or craft beer produced in another state, must be registered with the Minnesota Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division (AGED). Until about a month ago, that registration process was completed on paper and processed manually by the state. … [ Read more]
